Three-dimensional cleaning textile and method for the production thereof

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional cleaning textile includes: a textile cleaning base having a front face and a rear face; and at least one pile comprising at least one pile yarn that is permanently connected to the cleaning base and is raised and projects over the front face. In an embodiment, the cleaning base includes a fabric.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/079312, filed on Oct. 19, 2020, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2019 129 183.6, filed on Oct. 29, 2019. The International Application was published in German on May 6, 2021 as WO/2021/083696 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The invention relates to a three-dimensional cleaning textile and a method for the production thereof.

BACKGROUND

A three-dimensional cleaning textile and a method for the production thereof are generally known. Such a cleaning textile comprises a textile cleaning base with a front face and a rear face, wherein the front face is designed to clean a surface to be cleaned. For example, one method for manufacturing a three-dimensional flat textile material is by way of tufting. Tufting is suitable for producing looped or velour goods.

Plush material as a fabric or knitted material is also common as are corresponding methods for their production. Plush material is generally very soft to handle. Its characteristic features is its soft pile which can also have a variety of heights by adding to it. Plush fabrics are in general very durable due to the pile being incorporated into the base fabric.

In knitted plush materials, an extra thread is incorporated into a conventional knitted material, the extra thread forming small loops on the surface.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a three-dimensional cleaning textile, comprising: a textile cleaning base having a front face and a rear face; and at least one pile comprising at least one pile yarn that is permanently connected to the cleaning base and is raised and projects over the front face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various embodiments will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning textile in which the pile yarn forms loop-shaped pile tufts on the front face.

A cleaning textile is shown in FIG. 2 which differs from the cleaning textile from FIG. 1 in that the pile yarn projects over the front face in the form of a cut pile.

A cleaning textile with areas of higher and lower density is shown in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 4 shows a cleaning textile in which the plush material is interrupted by areas without plush material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a three-dimensional cleaning textile having a high/low structure which can be generated from the same fibers or yarns, for example.

The cleaning textile should exhibit consistently good usage properties, in particular a consistently good cleaning result, during long durations of use, and the cleaning textile should be easy, low cost, and safe to produce. The cleaning textile should be easy to move along a surface to be cleaned, with as little friction as possible, it should absorb dirt well and should absorb and/or release water well.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a three-dimensional cleaning textile, comprising a textile cleaning base having a front face and a rear face, as well as at least one pile made of at least one pile yarn connected permanently to the cleaning base which is raised and projects above the front face. It is advantageous here for the cleaning textile to have a front face with different pile heights adapted to the respective circumstances of use. For example, the cleaning base can have a homogenous base structure over which the pile, which consists of at least one pile yarn, is raised and projects. The high/low structure of the front face which allows it to be moved over a surface to be cleaned reduces friction during proper use of the cleaning textile, improving dirt pick-up.

During proper use of the cleaning textile, the raised pile yarns projecting over the front face are subjected to relatively higher pressure loads than the cleaning base itself. Due to the comparatively greater surface pressure of the pile yarns, even stubborn dirt can be easily detached from the surface to be cleaned and then collected in the areas that are less high in relation to the pile made up of pile yarns.

The cleaning base can be made of a fabric. In particular, it is advantageous if the fabric is made of a plush material. A plush fabric material has many advantages, especially when it is used as a cleaning textile. A plush fabric material has good and even water absorption and water release as well as good cleaning performance because it effectively removes dirt from the surfaces to be cleaned. Plush material has low friction when the cleaning textile is moved over the surface to be cleaned, it can effectively pick up and hold small dirt particles, and it has good chemical resistance.

In comparison, a cleaning base made of a flat fabric would be less suitable for use as a cleaning textile because it has a lower cleaning performance, for example. Likewise, a flat fabric has significantly poorer water absorption and water release.

The plush material may include at least a first pile height and a second pile height, the second pile height being greater than the first pile height. If such a plush material is used, the front face of the cleaning base already has two pile heights that differ from one another, the usage properties of the cleaning textile able to thereby be well adapted to the nature and/or soiling of the surface to be cleaned.

Additionally or alternatively, there is the possibility that the plush material has areas of higher and lower density arranged adjacent to one another. According to another embodiment, the plush material can be interrupted by areas that are empty of plush material.

A cleaning textile comprising a cleaning side with a cleaning surface which is delimited by an edge on the outside circumference, the cleaning surface having a lower pile density in the middle than at the edge as viewed transversely to the wiping direction of the cleaning textile, is known from DE 10 2015 014 069.8.

The production of the cleaning textile according to the invention can be significantly simplified in that the plush material is interrupted by areas without plush material. Such a structure makes visually clear the areas in which the pile yarns are to be connected to the cleaning base.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that only the areas of lower density or the areas without plush material are connected to the pile yarn. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the material requirement is substantially reduced by the areas of lower density or by the areas without plush material, and the cleaning textile can be produced cost-effectively as a result.

In addition, it is advantageous that due to the areas of lower density or the areas without plush material the weight of the cleaning textile is lower in comparison to a cleaning textile that does not have these areas. After cleaning textiles have been used as intended, they are usually washed in washing machines. By using cleaning textiles with areas of lower density or with less plush material areas, more of these cleaning textiles can be washed per wash load, which is a significant advantage in terms of reducing washing costs and protecting the environment.

Although the first and the second pile height can deviate from one another, the difference in length of the two pile heights can be comparatively small due to the production process.

Because the pile yarn is connected to the cleaning base, it is also possible to produce high/low structures with larger pile height differences. There is also the possibility of creating high/low structures from the same fibers/yarns.

According to a first embodiment, the pile yarn can form loop-shaped pile tufts on the front face. Loop-shaped pile tufts have the advantage that the sliding friction is reduced when the cleaning textile moves over the surface to be cleaned. This allows the user to clean quickly and effortlessly. In addition, loop-shaped pile tufts pick up loose dirt particles, such as hair, particularly well.

According to a second embodiment, the pile yarn can project over the front face with a cut pile. The advantage here is that the use of such a cleaning textile results in a particularly deep-acting cleaning. This is important, for example, for the thorough cleaning of structured floors. In addition, corners and edged areas can be cleaned easily because the comparatively longer cut pile prevents the lower neighboring areas from being mechanically overstressed and destroyed. The non-loop-shaped cut pile, which is open at the top, also largely prevents the cleaning textile from snagging on its surroundings during use and being damaged as a result.

The pile tufts or cut pile have a third pile height that is higher than the second pile height. As already described above, the sliding friction when using the cleaning textile is reduced because the cleaning textile has a good ability to absorb dirt and is particularly well suited for ergonomic work due to its voluminous shape.

The pile yarn can penetrate the cleaning base between the front face and the rear face and can be connected to the cleaning base by a clawing arrangement on the rear face. The clawing arrangement ensures that the pile yarn is not unintentionally pulled out of the cleaning base even when normal tensile stresses act on the pile yarn when cleaning a surface to be cleaned.

The clawing arrangement can be formed by a textile, knot-like interlocking of the pile yarn with the cleaning base. Such a knot-like interlocking of the pile yarn is created during the production of the cleaning textile.

The rear face and the clawing arrangement can be covered by a pile yarn retainer base, preventing them from coming loose. Such a pile yarn retainer base protects the pile yarns covering the rear face of the cleaning base from mechanical overloads.

According to a first embodiment, the pile yarn retaining base can be formed by a coating for additionally fixing the clawing arrangement of the pile yarn to the cleaning base. Such a coating can be made of a rubber coating, for example.

According to a second embodiment, the pile yarn retainer base can be formed by a separately produced protective fabric. Such a protective fabric preferably has the size of the rear face, covers the rear face and the clawing arrangement over the entire surface and is permanently connected to the cleaning base. The protective fabric can consist of polypropylene (PP) or polyester (PES), for example.

The protective fabric and the cleaning base are preferably sewn together. A sewing of this kind creates a durable connection, the pile yarns are permanently retained in their position in the cleaning base, and the cleaning textile has consistently good usage properties overall over a long period of use.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional cleaning textile, in which, in a first method step, the pile yarn is connected to the cleaning base by tufting. Tufting itself is already known. It works on the principle of a sewing machine. Needles insert the pile yarn into the cleaning base. Before the needles are pulled back out of the cleaning base, the inserted pile yarn is held by grippers so that the loop-shaped pile tufts are formed on the front face of the cleaning base.

Depending on whether the pile yarn is to form loop-shaped tufts or whether it should project over the front face with a cut pile, the loops either remain unchanged or the loops are cut open with a knife, resulting in the cut pile described above.

In a second process step, the rear face and the clawing arrangement can be coated with the coating.

However, if this additional fixation is not to be achieved by a coating, but by a separately produced protective fabric, the protective fabric covers the rear face and the clawing arrangement in the second process step. The protective fabric can preferably be sewn onto the rear face of the cleaning base.

FIGS. 1 and 4 each show an embodiment of a three-dimensional cleaning textile comprising the textile cleaning base 1 with a front face 2 and a rear face 3. In the embodiments shown here, the cleaning base 1 is formed by a plush fabric.

In the exemplary embodiments shown here, the plush material has two different pile heights 6, 7, namely the first pile height 6 and the second pile height 7, the second pile height 7 being greater than the first pile height 6.

In FIG. 1 , the pile yarn 5 forms loop-shaped tufts 8 on the front face 2.

FIG. 2 shows a cleaning textile with a cut pile 9 which projects over the front face 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 it can be seen clearly that the three pile heights 6, 7, and 10 differ substantially from one another. The second pile height 7 is higher than the first pile height 6 and the third pile height 10 is higher than the second pile height 7.

In both exemplary embodiments, the pile yarn 5 is held by a clawing arrangement 11 on the rear face 3 of the cleaning base 1 and is thereby secured against unintentional release from the cleaning base during the intended use of the cleaning textile. The clawing arrangement 11 is effectuated by a knot-like interlocking.

In FIG. 1 , a pile yarn retaining base 12 is provided which is permanently connected to rear face 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the pile yarn retaining base 12 is formed by the coating 16.

In contrast, in FIG. 2 the pile yarn retaining base 12 is formed by a protective fabric 17 which is the same size as rear face 3, fully covers rear face 3 and clawing arrangement 11 and being sewn onto cleaning base 1.

In FIG. 3 , the cleaning base, which, like the cleaning bases made of plush material described above, also has areas of higher 13 and lower 14 density. In the area of lower density 14, loop-shaped pile tufts 8 are arranged, or a cut pile 9 projects over these areas.

FIG. 4 differs from FIG. 3 in that instead of the areas of lower density 14, areas 15 without plush material are provided, the areas 15 without plush material being surrounded by plush material. The pile yarn 5 is arranged in these plush-free areas 15 and is raised and projects over the front face 2.

The areas of lower density 14 or the areas 15 that are empty of plush material can be easily detected visually. This makes it immediately clear which areas have to be tufted through with the pile yarn and which areas are then covered by the loop-shaped pile tufts 8 or the cut pile 9.

While subject matter of the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Any statement made herein characterizing the invention is also to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive as the invention is defined by the claims. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made, by those of ordinary skill in the art, within the scope of the following claims, which may include any combination of features from different embodiments described above.

The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, 

1. A three-dimensional cleaning textile, comprising: a textile cleaning base having a front face and a rear face; and at least one pile comprising at least one pile yarn that is permanently connected to the cleaning base and is raised and projects over the front face-R.
 2. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 1, wherein the cleaning base comprises a fabric.
 3. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 2, wherein the fabric comprises a plush material.
 4. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 3, wherein the plush material has at least a first pile height and a second pile height, and wherein the second pile height is greater than the first pile height.
 5. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 4, wherein the pile yarn comprises loop-shaped pile tufts on the front face.
 6. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 5, wherein the pile yarn projects over the front face with a cut pile.
 7. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 6, wherein the pile tufts or the cut pile has a third pile height which is greater than the second pile height.
 8. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 7, wherein the third pile height is higher than the second pile height.
 9. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 1, wherein the pile yarn penetrates the cleaning base between the front face and the rear face and is connected to the cleaning base by a clawing arrangement on the rear face.
 10. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 9, wherein the clawing arrangement comprises a textile, knot-like interlocking of the pile yarn with the cleaning base.
 11. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 9, wherein the rear face and the clawing arrangement are permanently covered by a pile yarn retaining base.
 12. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 11, wherein the pile yarn retaining base comprises a coating.
 13. The three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 12, wherein the coating comprises an acrylic binder.
 14. A method for producing the three-dimensional cleaning textile of claim 1, comprising: connecting the pile yarn to the cleaning base by tufting.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: concealing the rear face and the clawing arrangement by the pile yarn retaining base. 